STATEPICKSLECOMPTONFIRMFORRESTORATIONWORKONHALL

The Kansas State Historical Society this morning selected a Lecompton contractor to restore Lecompton's historic Constitution Hall, according to Terry Marmet, director of facilities for the historical society.

Rockhill and Sons won the 150-day contract, and work should get under way by next week, he said.

Negotiations were held Friday with three contractors interested in the project to discuss work proposals and specifications. The cost of the restoration was one of several issues considered, Marmet said, adding that the $125,904 bid submitted by Rockhill and Sons wasn't the lowest.

Historical society officials sought out firms that understood the hall's historical significance and that were skilled in construction methods of working on such facilities. Rockhill and Sons has worked on several other buildings, such as Lawrence's Benedict House and Lecompton's Lane University.

"Based on the final best offer, we chose them," Marmet said. "They were the best for this project."

Marmet said workers first will fence off the site and make the building safe for construction.